A youth was allegedly killed by some villagers by slashing his legs with a sharp weapon and crushing his head with stone at Regedi village under Berhampur Sadar police limits in Odisha’s Ganjam district.

The deceased was identified as Suresh Pradhan, sources said.

According to reports, he created disturbance during a Bhajan programme organised at the village on the occasion of Ganesh puja following which the villagers and Pradhan had a heated exchange of words.

Later, the villagers took him to a distant place and attacked him unitedly. They allegedly hacked his legs with a sharp weapon and crushed his head with stone which led to Pradhan’s death.

On being informed about the incident, police reached the spot and seized the body. As many as 10 villagers have been detained for interrogation over their involvement in the killing.

Notably, Pradhan had criminal records and several cases were pending against him at different police stations.